The First Military Division of the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 158 Liu Bei's determination

"Cough, cough, cough..." Xi Zhicai finished his plan in one breath, and then coughed one after another.

Cao Cao, who was thinking deeply, immediately stood up and personally sent Xi Zhicai to rest. From this, it can be seen how much Cao Cao relies on Xi Zhicai.

After Cao Cao made arrangements for Xi Zhicai, he returned to the meeting hall and started discussing again.

With Xi Zhicai's strategy, there is no need to think about whether to send troops to attack Liu Bei. The general direction has been set, and the following details do not need a peerless adviser like Xi Zhicai to participate.

You must know that Cao Cao's advisors are no less than Liu Bei. Xun Yu, Xun You, Cheng Yu, Hua Xin and others are also top advisors, and there are even more first-rate advisors.

Many counselors talk to each other and finish a huge strategic plan in minutes. Tactical deception and so on are all planned clearly, and many generals also clearly know their missions.

In the end, Mao Jie, a counselor, made a suggestion and sent people to Linzi to release rumors that Chen Ziming wanted to monopolize Youzhou, break away from Liu Bei, and establish himself as the new Youzhou Shepherd. The relationship between Chen Ziming.

However, both Cheng Yu and Xun You thought that this plan would not work. Of course, Cao Cao sent someone to Linzi to spread the rumors just in case, and wrote to the emperor, intending to make Chen Ziming the Shepherd of Youzhou.

In the end, it was decided that in the spring of next year, Cao Cao would personally lead an army of 20, which he claimed to be [-], to attack Nancheng, attracting the attention of Liu Bei, Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu and others.

After Yuan Shu's army invaded Xuzhou, generals Xiahou Dun and Cao Ren each led [-] troops to attack all parts of Yuzhou and occupy the empty Yuzhou.

Xun Yu continued to stay in Chenliu, raising food and grass for Cao Cao's army, and keeping Cao Cao's rear safe.

As Xi Zhicai said, Yuan Shu of Yuzhou heard that Cao Cao wanted to attack Liu Bei with him, and he could get all the rich land in Xuzhou. He immediately agreed to send troops to attack Liu Bei in the spring of next year without thinking about it.

As for Sun Jian in Yangzhou, the army is still in a stalemate with Wang Lang in Kuaiji, and has no intention of fighting in the north. He immediately rejected Yuan Shao's attack on Liu Bei together, and asked Sun Jing, who stayed behind, to mobilize troops to guard against Yuan Shu in Yuzhou and Liu Biao in Jingzhou.

And transferred away the [-] soldiers and horses hoarded outside Xuzhou, in order to express to Liu Bei that he had no intention of Xuzhou.

When the princes from all walks of the world were preparing their troops for war and connecting with each other, Liu Bei in Qingzhou and Chen Ziming in Youzhou both received a secret report from the secret guard.

The secret report came from Jizhou, and it was top secret. Only Liu Bei, Chen Ziming, and the secret guard general Wang Yue knew the source of the information. The people who participated were only responsible for passing on the news, and they didn't know the content of it, and they didn't know who passed it on.

Qingzhou, Linzi, Liu Bei's mansion.

"My lord, how reliable is this secret report?" Liu Bei's secretary-general, Chen Gong, looked at the contents of the secret report, frowned, and asked Liu Bei with a serious face.

"Gongtai is at ease, the secret report is absolutely credible. I have an agreement with the person who revealed it, so I can't tell Gongtai." Liu Bei was not polite to Chen Gong, and directly said that he could not tell you.

Chen Gong's expression did not change because of this, he is a man of integrity, and keeping Chengruo is his code of conduct.

Moreover, Liu Bei asked Chen Gong to sit in the rear many times, which shows how important Chen Gong's position is in Liu Bei's heart.

"From this point of view, Youzhou is in danger." Chen Gong was not worried about the safety of Qingzhou and Xuzhou. When attacking Liaodong, Chen Ziming had already made arrangements for the rear.

He also thought of the reactions of the other princes and possible attacks after Chen Ziming occupied Youzhou.

It's just that neither Chen Ziming nor Chen Gong and others thought that Yuan Shao would be so frenzied and take the initiative to lead the three northern tribes to attack Youzhou together.

"Yuan Benchu ​​is very hateful. He dared to do such an unacceptable thing. Gongtai must not let the three northern tribes enter Youzhou, otherwise the people of Youzhou will be in danger." Liu Bei scolded Yuan Shao with hatred, and at the same time worried about his Youzhou. The safety of the people made Chen Gong on the side more certain that his original choice was correct.

"Don't worry, my lord. If the three tribes in the north want to attack Youzhou, they will need the spring of the next year. After the weather gets warmer, there are still four months before spring. We have time to prepare."

"My lord has the convenience of the navy. It only takes a day or two for the army to reinforce Youzhou by boat from Linqu port. It's nothing like panic."

"What I am worried about today is Cao Cao's ears. If I were Cao Cao, I would definitely take this opportunity to attack Xuzhou with a large army. First, my lord can not send a large army to reinforce Youzhou. Second, I can also take this opportunity to occupy Xuzhou or Mount Tai. Wait." After Chen Gong comforted Liu Bei, he began to think.

"Gongtai, my enemies are not limited to Cao Mengdeyan, Sun Jian of Yangzhou, and Yuan Shu of Yuzhou can all come to attack, and Yuan Shao of Jizhou will also send a large army to attack Qingzhou. I have enemies on all sides, how can I refuse?" Liu Bei wondered why Chen Gong said that Liu Bei's enemies are only Cao Cao, according to the secret letter, Yuan Shao is going to contact several other princes to attack Liu Bei together.

"My lord, don't worry, wait for me to speak slowly."

"Yuan Shao's so-called strategy of the four princes attacking together is nothing to the ears. Sun Jian of Yangzhou has an alliance with the lord, and his ambition is to unify Yangzhou. The army is all in the land of Kuaiji, and he also has such powerful enemies as Liu Biao of Jingzhou. It should not be ignored. I will become an enemy of the lord, so I can go this way."

"Yuan Shao of Jizhou will not attack the land of Qingzhou. He will send some soldiers and horses outside Qingzhou to involve General Guan's troops and horses so that General Guan's army cannot be moved lightly. But there will be no danger."

"Yuzhou Yuan Shu competed with Cao Cao for Yuzhou last year, and his strength was greatly depleted, and his unscrupulous generals and counselors have low combat effectiveness. He will not be the enemy of Yuan Zhi and General Zhang Jaw, so don't worry about it."

"Only Cao Cao in Yanzhou, with extraordinary abilities, many advisors and powerful generals, and sufficient food and supplies, will definitely not miss this opportunity to weaken the Lord's strength."

"If Cao Cao raises a crowd to attack, my lord needs to defend with all his strength. In this way, Xuzhou's [-] soldiers need to defend against Yuan Shu or Cao Cao's attack. Not only cannot they be mobilized, but they also need to be appropriately reinforced."

"Nancheng General Zhang Liao's [-] troops are also unable to move. Taishan's [-] troops need to reinforce Nancheng or Xuzhou, and they still need to defend the important areas of Taishan, and they cannot withdraw."

"As for the Jinan war zone, the [-] troops led by General Guan need to defend against Yuan Shao's troops from Jizhou. If they move lightly, Yuan Shao's troops will also take the opportunity to attack Qingzhou."

"Based on this calculation, my lord can mobilize [-] new recruits from the Linzi Camp to reinforce Youzhou, which may not be enough." Chen Gong not long after gave Liu Bei a clear understanding of the current situation.

However, he still underestimated Cao Cao's ability as a counselor. In other words, he underestimated Xi Zhicai. Chen Gong never thought that Xi Zhi would offer a plan for Cao Cao to falsely attack Liu Bei and actually occupy Yuzhou.

"Youzhou must not be lost. I don't want the land of Xuzhou, and I must not let the three northern tribes plunder the people of Youzhou." After listening to Chen Gong's analysis, Liu Bei said to Chen Gong with determination in his eyes.

(End of this chapter)